First: Get excited! The four Chicago bands you chose from our RedEye Rock ‘n’ Vote Top 10 take the stage Wednesday, competing for your votes on-site to win a slot at Taste of Chicago. Former Rock ‘n’ Vote finalist and current buzztastic rapper Rockie Fresh headlines the free show at Hard Rock Cafe.

Ok, now: You may want to get to know the personalities behind Hospital Garden, The Retar Crew, The 92s and Santiago x The Natural a little better before seeing the rock and hip-hop acts show their stuff. We’ve got you covered, and we’ll see you there!

What’s the most memorable/unique aspect of your performances? What’s been your wildest experience on stage?Hospital Garden: We're loud. One time we played on a boat for rich people and someone spilled red wine on our white dresses.The Retar Crew: We are a bunch of dudes in our thirties dancing around like idiots and rapping about how big of [bleep]-ups we are. Most of our fans drink whiskey. Our last show [at] the Double Door ran out of whiskey. I think this means people don't remember a lot about our shows unfortunately.The 92s: Playing in a swarm of horny bumblebees. Seriously. That is both our wildest experience and the most memorable aspect of our performance. We bring the bees with us. Santiago x The Natural: We take a rockers’ approach to hip hop and are not afraid to show it during our live sets. Most recently, our wildest experience was performing at the Xcel Energy Center before a crowd of 11,000+ flanked by hot girls in spandex and dudes in random mascot costumes.

What’s the worst thing someone could do at your concert?HG: [Bleep] up our pyrotechnics.TRC: Not have a good time.92s: Come looking like Zooey Deschanel. Dan would surely forget all the lyrics.SXTN: Not dance. **Tied with clapping off-rhythm, but if you are going to clap off-rhythm, not dancing would be the best thing you could do at our concert. Haha.

How will you celebrate if you win Rock ‘n’ Vote?HG: We will buy a boat.TRC: Drinking.92s: Fireworks, cigars, and forties.SXTN: We will go to Studio Paris, double-fist Jameson x Sugar-Free Red Bull, and stupid dance until our socks fall off inside our shoes.

Describe your sound in the form of a limerick.HG: There once was a thief by a moat/Who desperately needed to float/and get to the king/his throat he would ring/and all that he needs is a boat.TRC: There once was a group of retars/resigned to fact they'd never be stars/When I asked why they did it/they simply admitted/we like giving our music for free charge.92s: Through tones so thick and dirty/Dan's words are rather flirty/Straight indie rock/With harp and glock/It's one plus one plus ninety.SXTN: Hip hop with a heart made of gold/Infusion of rock with a soul/We fill up the room/With sounds that go BOOM/We’ll keep making sounds ‘til we’re old.

In what way do you represent Chicago music?HG: We have wind machines.TRC: Irresponsibly.92s: The variety in our sound reflects upon the diversity of the Chicago music scene. Each member brings unique influences to the table from Andrew Bird to Wilco to even punkier stuff like Alkaline Trio. SXTN: Santiago's soulful voice and unapologetic song-crafting paired with The Natural's south-side twang infused grit, are a living homage to Chicago’s rich x eclectic music history.

What is your most important band tradition?HG: Make a mistake on stage and you don't get paid. No excuses.TRC: Bourbon and Guinness.92s: No setlist. Make it up on the fly.SXTN: It used to be a bottle of Andre in the dorm room before a studio session; now it’s a pre/post-show shot of Jameson.

“The Dictator” opens May 16. If you ruled a country, what would be your first order of business?HG: Abolish Cars: Enforce Boats (and build canals).TRC: We [would] have to analyze the socio-economic structure of the country and get a feel for the life of the people on the street before hastily attempting any abrupt policy decisions. 92s: Take 80% of all professional athletes' exorbitant salaries and redistribute the money to pay teachers what they deserve.SXTN: Eliminate homelessness paired with a dedicated 24/7 channel to “Between Two Ferns.”

What superhero do you have the most in common with and why?HG: Magnum P.I. We both look awesome, have boats, and love the Detroit Tigers.TRC: Jax is like the Hulk ‘cause he keeps it independent like Mark Ruffalo. Pos is Eagle Eye ‘cause he's really good at archery. G is Spider Man ‘cause his hands are always sticky. J is Superman cause he travels quite a bit.92s: Iron Man. The four of us are just a bunch of billionaire-genius-playboy-philanthropists trying to make it in this cold, cruel world. SXTN: Santiago would be Silver Surfer because of his renaissance-man powers cosmic; The Natural would be Batman (regular businessman by day ... hip-hop crusader by night).

This year we received a record 170 submissions to our 9th annual contest and chose these 10 bands to fight for your approval. Vote through midnight Sunday for who you want to see live; the top 4 vote-getters play our free show May 16 at Hard Rock Café, with on-site voting at the show determining...

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